Mark Sorrentino can’t quite let go of the Brass Rail, which is grand news for people who grew up dining and romancing at the iconic Allentown restaurant that closed in the summer of 2022 after 91 busy years.
On Wednesday, Sorrentino said the sale of the 3015 Lehigh St. property to a development company is finally complete, nearly a year after a previous agreement to sell to the Royal Farms convenience store chain fell through.
Sorrentino isn’t sure what the new owner, , has planned, but with the sale completed, he is looking to the future.
“We are presently in talks about opening a stand at the Allentown Farmers Market — we just started talking with them about that,” he said.
Three generations of Sorrentino’s family owned the Brass Rail. Sorrentino and his sister took ownership following the death of their father, Richard Sorrentino, in 1996. The pandemic, labor shortages, supply chain problems and inflation were all factors in persuading the owners it was time to sell.
The news hit the Lehigh Valley hard. Generations of fans enjoyed the restaurant’s cheesesteaks, pot roast sandwiches and other hearty fare, and more than one person who stopped for a meal on the final day reminisced about courting a sweetheart there.
The farmers market “would be a good fit for us,” Sorrentino said. “We obviously want to stay in Allentown, but not do something so full-time.”
The new Brass Rail would have a limited menu. It would include the famous cheesesteaks, of course, along with hot dogs and some fried food items.
“Nothing super extensive,” Sorrentino said. “We’ll keep it simple.”
He has no timeline for the project.
“We have no idea at this point if there will be seating available or whatnot,” he said. “When something opens up and it’s a good fit, we’ll jump on it.”
A spokesperson for the farmers market said she could not comment on the negotiations.
No one from the Ferber Co. could be reached for comment about plans for the old Brass Rail site, part of a lot that also includes Budget Truck Rentals, a Batteries and Bulbs store, and a Pacific Pride gas station.
The company’s website says it boasts some of the nation’s most popular retailers as development clients, including Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, McDonald’s and Chipotle.
Morning 첥Ƶ reporter Daniel Patrick Sheehan can be reached at 610-820-6598 or dsheehan@mcall.com.
